Clients – The MENA Catalysts

Global tech companies and Middle Eastern leaders don’t just trust us–they rely on us. Why?
Because we deliver, and uphold our promises.

Selected Clients

We have advised some of the world’s most ambitious fintech, web3, and AI firms and government leaders in the largest Middle Eastern economies.

Problems We Solve for Our Clients

We understand your needs because we’ve done this before.

The MENA Catalysts work closely with high tech companies’ heads of public policy, government relations, external affairs, and market expansion to solve key issues affecting their business.

✓ Government bans

Many external affairs firms tell their clients that government bans are difficult to undo, almost like trying to un-stir cream from your coffee. We have unblocked 12 apps in the Gulf and halted governments from blocking dozens of others.

✓ Lack of government relationships

As any MENA veteran knows, getting access to the decision-makers is a constant struggle. Licensing is slower, stakeholders don’t get back to you, and delivering priorities gets delayed.

✓ Underperforming KPIs

Companies burn through too much time and effort on too many insignificant nice-to-have activities. Current approaches of government relations firms are not delivering results of high tech multinationals.

✓ Limited expertise

Corporate success for high tech companies increasingly rests on having specialists in place that understands your high tech business specifically and Middle Eestern operating environment.

Case Study 1
Successfully persuaded tech regulator to unblock a popular mobile app

A tech unicorn was stuck trying to unblock its popular mobile app across the Gulf. They turned to us, because they said they heard that we had the expertise to make it happen.

Plan

We pinpointed the key government official standing in the way and the reasons behind the block.
Next, we crafted a strategic execution plan that empowered the client to gain buy-in from their leadership team before engaging The MENA Catalysts to clear the path for their app in the Gulf.

Excecution

We mapped key Gulf policymakers capable of lifting the app ban and identified entrenched conservative interests opposing our client.
Leading the charge, we organized inter-ministerial meetings to confront objections directly. Our compelling presentations in Arabic showcased, the app’s benefits to the economy and society, securing approval to lift the ban and unlock new opportunities.
To position our client as a thought leader, we crafted a white paper that facilitated high-level conversations with national leaders.
We held roundtables with decision-makers, demonstrating the benefits of adopting business-friendly laws and the challenges of rigid regulatory approaches.
Finally, we reinvented our client’s government relationship through a flagship CSR project that resonated with key influencers and authored op-eds to champion a business-friendly digital economy in key Arab markets.

Impact

The government removed restrictions on our client’s digital platforms.
Regulators unblocked apps in four Gulf markets.
Our client secured a license exemption from both the regulator and customs.
Leadership made Middle East business growth a top priority.
We earned praise from four MENA national technology regulators.
In just months, our client achieved what once took.

Case Study 2
Successfully Persuading Regulator to Unblock App

Our client’s leaders were eager to launch a local version of their global app in the Gulf economies. We prepared them for a sustainable and successful launch, clearing the path for uninhibited growth.

Intelligence for Client’s App and User

We delivered critical analysis of the local app’s performance and regulatory landscape.
Our team provided real-time updates on the political, legal, and regulatory environments impacting our client and its users.
Through video conferences, we briefed clients on sensitive developments, equipping them with essential preparatory measures for reputational and regulatory challenges.
We delivered rapid analysis that informed stakeholder insights, driving our client’s Gulf business priorities.

Launch and Government Engagement Strategy

We tackled regulatory hurdles head-on, crafting a tailored engagement strategy for a successful public launch in the Gulf. By facilitating productive meetings with key regulators, policymakers, political leaders, and influencers, we ensured smooth operations and compliance.
Additionally, our support empowered client leadership to overcome roadblocks and seize opportunities, during both the beta and general availability phases, enabling seamless product expansions to meet evolving user needs across the region.

Partnerships

We identified and developed high-impact partnership opportunities in key MENA markets, allowing our client to work together with policymakers and regulators to enhance their reputation and drive business-friendly initiatives.
We curated a portfolio of valuable partnerships with reputable organizations, advancing our client’s Middle East business priorities while solidifying their brand presence.
By leveraging these partnerships, we achieved key performance indicators (KPIs) without increasing headcount, relying on partners to manage complex stakeholder engagement and convert them into influential collaborators and users.